Hand-Raiser Marketing - Latest Comments

Re: Say it with me, Conversion

Therran Oliphant — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:47:21 -0000

Thanks! Yes, setting up conversion points can be arduous but is our best defense against all of our other efforts not being a total waste of time.

Also agree on the analytics topic. You have it figured out, man. Conversion optimization is the only way to guarantee what you're doing is working and to be able to value your service, time and effort.

Re: Say it with me, Conversion

HubertGAM — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:12:39 -0000

Woo! Thanks for the continued motivation. It's good to know there are others that are on the same realm of thought. Also, thanks for the shout too!

When I think about how much work I have to do to set up my conversion points, I remind myself how valuable it all is. When I just started adding my MailChimp form to the end of my blog posts, my list doubled! That happened after 2 weeks and 3 posts.

As things get more limited in the freemium space as it goes for analytics, it seems to make sense that you optimize your conversion points. For most, we need to set them up first, then look to optimize. Either way, Google is not giving away as much information for free, so we have to make sure whatever traffic we drive that we make it count.

Re: Apple in Wonderland

Kennan — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:37:16 -0000

I'm actually relieved to see that this article isn't all that biased. I expected worse from a person who swears off Apple products. :-)

Re: Direct-Response Digital: Online Video

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Re: Social Media is Amway

Therran Oliphant — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 22:02:32 -0000

Thanks, Hub-ster! Hey, if you're showing love then I know I'm doing something right. You're not a 'gasser.'

Gotta say, you put it down, but by the very nature of what you do I couldn't include you in the list of folks not promoting the 'little guy.' In fact, I would say that you help create a echo chamber of b & c-listers with #tweetea. That is how people come up, and has been a big part of my development. Props, respect, tabernacle and chuuch to you my friend.

Re: Social Media is Amway

HubertGAM — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 20:49:43 -0000

First off Therran, brilliant post. The irony is, you're playing the game like the big boys here. It is only a matter of time before eyebrows get raised, along with hands, in your presence.

As someone that prides himself on being first, I can admit I have benefitted in our hyper-local silo. That said, I know that I deliver a certain level of quality in my output. As I am in a highly-competitive space with many people I consider friends, I realize I need to approach the situation in my unique way. It is a lonely road, but it gets me the looks I need. Sure, I could post blogs for heads of SMBs and mid-level execs of major brands to read and hope that they'll ask me for an RFP. (Un)Fortunately, I know that I have a passion for a space that is far more satisfying.

I say all this to say, you got to want it bad enough to truly get the results you want. The persistent and consistent are the ones that seem to gain the most. As much as I hate to say it, the big dogs are who they are based on the quality of their material, not how early they got in the game. The Brogans, Gary Vs and Naslunds are on because they produced some brilliant messaging that resonated at the right time and with proper follow-through, they have seen dramatic results [not typical for average people].

Re: Social Media is Amway

Therran — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:49:07 -0000

Wow, great comments Harrison. I'm glad you could get that access. Maybe you can explain to some of the frustrated and uninitiated how you gained access to such heavyweights. And I love your comments about accepting your station in life. It must be handled with grace. Too often, elite folks don't do this. I think in SM there are actual great examples of this happening. I also resonate with your comments about reaching out to "who put you there" too. I was going to mention that fact and didn't; thanks for brining it up!

Re: Social Media is Amway

Harrison Painter — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:39:13 -0000

I agree with some of these comments to a point, like nothing beats face to face while working hard to build your own audience. However, many of these folks your are referring to are people that are looked up to, and when a person preaches engagement, by default they must engage, no excuses. When I got my start, two people took time for me, and I credit both of them as the seeds to my current success, Bob Burg and Gary Vaynerchuk. Both very busy guys, but they still took the time to speak with me and I learned a lot from both of them. When people look up to you, telling folks you are too busy is just an easy way out of the criticism. Once you hit role model status, accept it, embrace it, and never make an excuse for not having the time to reach out and touch the ones that put you there.

Re: Social Media is Amway

jaybaer — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:44:29 -0000

Bingo. You said it all. The trick is for people to create their own "success network" with other new or emerging voices. Then, as that group starts to "make it" everyone wins. Rising tide lifts all boats.

Re: Social Media is Amway

Therran Oliphant — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:44:31 -0000

Thanks for the comments, Jay. I'd like to meet you, also. I place a lot of value on face-to-face interaction.

Mark makes some nice points. The echo chamber I speak of isn't just the elite sending something out, though. The echo chamber happens when the masses coalesce around certain people and there becomes a reverberation of sharing as if what's being said is law and you could get arrested for not reading it.

I tend to agree more than you think with it not being impossible to break through without being first. However, it is much more difficult to get those relationships. Though not my personal goal in life, I and others have been shunned and discluded from having those opportunities to put a name and a beer to a face based on perceived clout. Plus, I've seen many people used to volunteer for events and getting nothing but this stupid t-shirt. I feel your personal story is a rare occurence - the obligatory "these results are not typical" at the end of the diet pill ad. Good for you; you're a rockstar. (And I'm not being condescending there)

I completely disagree about the interconnected revenue stream bit. While there may not be actual "deals" in place there does seem to be a level of cooperation by the SM elite. No matter how well intentioned, the people seen speaking, engaged in panels, getting a lot of buzz, etc will tend to work with/for each other. This happens in my business all the time. I just walked out of a meeting where we were looking to partner with a company and narrowed our choices down based on size and connections to other organizations we thoght were in line with us. When you are your business, the lines of personal interaction and business partnership are blurred.

Totally agree with the killer content bit, too. Great content is relative, though. I've seen some with what I thought was great content, never break through. I've seen others with decent content become superstars. I won't name names but I would be careful about extolling how meritocritous the medium is. I think it's much like any other business, it's not always what you know...

Two years ago, like you, I knew noone in social media. I haven't made it my mission to become a social media superstar so on some things I'm willing to defer to your expertise as someone who's engaged everyday. However, I think there is a lot of energy and personal equity by the non-elite to promote and support the elite with very little benefit. The real problem, is with the non-elite quite frankly. This is why I ended the post by saying that people needed to quit their sycophantic ways and start supporting each other. I'm not dependant on Gary V, Guy Kawasaki or Brogan...but I will depend on my peers to support my efforts. This is where there's a real disconnect.

Re: Social Media is Amway

jaybaer — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 09:27:25 -0000

Therran thanks for putting this together, and for the link to my post. I've had the good fortune of meeting Dave a couple times, and hope to get a chance to connect with you IRL too.

I have to disagree with your country club analogy.

First, you put way too much stock in the power of the echo chamber. As Mark Schaefer (whose own blog has made huge progress from nowhere in a year) wrote yesterday, tweets and recognition from true A-listers does not build your blog audience: http://bit.ly/feWdzc

Second, being there "first" has very little impact on social success. Two years ago, my blog had 200 daily visitors. I was by no means "first" in the social media game. I built my own sphere of influence, the same way that every other blogger and social media voice has had to do. Chris Brogan started with the same audience I did, and you did. Zero.

Third, there is no interconnected revenue stream. None. Yes, Amber and I wrote a book together, but those types of deals are very much the exception. If anything, there is a financial disincentive to work together and mutually promote. Guess who I compete with every day for consulting contracts? The rest of those people. When stuff gets promotes, it's because there is belief in the person and their perspective.

As a matter of course, Brogan takes the time to highlight several people who are new and emerging in each issue of his email newsletter. He certainly doesn't need to do that, but he does. I run a guest post once a week (usually) that is almost invariably from new and emerging voices. Jason Falls has moved his blog from a solo author to 10-12 authors. There are lots and lots of other examples.

The reality is that people with some measure of audience in social media are almost invariably (but there are exceptions) interested in shining the light on other voices. The challenge in doing so is two-fold. Time and filtering.

As you pointed out, it takes a lot of time to do it, and someone like Brogan gets literally dozens of "please tweet this" requests every day. Breaking through that clutter somehow is what makes you a good marketer.

I find that the new voices that get promoted are typically people that produce truly killer content, and people that you've had a chance to interact with IRL. That's why conferences (despite the sometimes lack of diversity, as mentioned in my original post) are so important. In this absolute sea of sameness, where everyone has a blog and is talking about basically the same stuff, putting a name and a beer to a face is priceless.

You probably don't believe any of what I've said, and that's fine. All I can tell you is that two years ago I knew NOBODY in social media. And know I do. The code is imminently crackable. Nobody is holding you back, least of all the "country club".

Re: What Does Hand-Raiser Mean?

Therran Oliphant — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 10:24:36 -0000

Thanks, Katadhin! Feel free to reach out any time!

Re: The Self-Starter

Therran Oliphant — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 10:23:30 -0000

Thanks, Billy, it's always nice to write something that helps people out. Now, let's talk about that idea we had last month! LOL

Re: What Does Hand-Raiser Mean?

Katadhin — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 23:24:27 -0000

Great article Therran! Excellent insights into the power of mutual benefit.

Re: The Self-Starter

Bj Strawter — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 09:20:15 -0000

Well said Therran. As you know this hits home in more ways than one. Working on getting better at this. Thanks for the reminder that the status quo is never acceptable.

Re: Podcasting?

Therran Oliphant — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:25:23 -0000

Thanks. I hope you were able to get some value out of it, too! We joke a lot but try to work on projects that further our businesses. Social Media and Digital Marketers sometimes seem to forget that part of the value equation. Thanks for listening.

Re: Podcasting?

Literary Nobody — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 02:07:33 -0000

Interesting conversation Therran ..very entertaining. You have a lot of knowledge on marketing. Hate that I was so late in hearing it.

Re: Cleaning Out the Cobwebs

Therran Oliphant — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:17:48 -0000

All I need is the app for you computer, now! LOL Be on the lookout...

Re: Cleaning Out the Cobwebs

Whoiamnotwhatiam — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:52:38 -0000

This blog post speaks to me on a personal level. I heard a presentation on Saturday in regards to clutter and the traps that it leads to personally, professionally and otherwise. Today I cleaned out many of my bins and baskets...still much more to do but I feel relieved that the process has started. Thanks for sharing. I am committing to the quarterly pact!! Hold me accountable. Tara Michener www.taramichener.com

Re: Cleaning Out the Cobwebs

Therran Oliphant — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:52:35 -0000

Jen –
Sorry to hear about your father, but I’m sure it helps you grieve and cleanse to be so close to him and his stuff – even if it is a hoarders paradise. I can totally empathize with moving on, mentally, too fast. I can pivot on a nail head sometimes. I may not even have the idea fully formed, but the seedling of it can make me completely change course like I’ve already thought it all out and completed the task! If you find some good techniques, do share. I will help you promote your

Re: Cleaning Out the Cobwebs

Therran Oliphant — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:52:07 -0000

Nikki –
I love going through old work. I found myself going through old business documents and even school documents, that I found extremely valuable. I’m sometimes amazed at how smart I was at 22 and I think “what happened to that guy”? LOL But seriously, thanks for the comments.

Re: Cleaning Out the Cobwebs

Therran Oliphant — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:51:51 -0000

Hadi –
Great minds think alike, I guess!

Re: Cleaning Out the Cobwebs

Therran Oliphant — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:51:35 -0000

Toya –
Thank you. The failures to me, are sometimes my favorite things to remember because I know that I’ve learned something.. Sometimes when I go on a success streak, I forget the little things and start making mistakes. I’m getting better at changing that though.

Re: Cleaning Out the Cobwebs

Therran Oliphant — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:50:24 -0000

Nice! Now, we'll have to have a system to check each other's progress each quarter. Any suggestions?

Re: Cleaning Out the Cobwebs

David Benjamin — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:49:35 -0000

I'm constantly re-evaluating life from personal to business. As you stated, it's an important yet sometimes difficult thing to do.

Thanks for sharing.